By Tim Bradner
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Gov. Frank Murkowski signed into law bills creating an independent state authority that could manage construction of a toll bridge over Knik Arm, additional airport revenue bonds to fund completion of terminal reconstruction at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and a bill authorizing certificates of participation to finance a new $14 million state food inspection laboratory in Anchorage.

Murkowski signed the bills in a ceremony at the Port of Anchorage June 12.

Senate Bill 213 establishes an independent authority to receive federal funds for a Knik Arm bridge that would connect Anchorage with the Point McKenzie area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The board of the authority will have seven members, five of them with voting powers.

Three public members, and the commissioners of the state departments of Transportation and Public Facilities and Revenue are the five voting members. Two board members from the state House and state Senate are non-voting.

Alaska Congressman Don Young is seeking federal funds to build the bridge. If it is built, the area across Knik Arm from Anchorage would be opened to residential and commercial development, giving the city room to grow, Murkowski said.

"It's going to be a long-lasting investment in Alaska's future,'' Murkowski said at the signing ceremony. "This is an extraordinarily historic event for our state, and today marks the jumping off for this project."

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